Cyclist On Boris Bike Dies Following Collision

Photo / Terry Moran
Sad news from last night: a cyclist has died after being hit by a truck at the junction of Commercial Street and Whitechapel Road in east London. The victim, understood to be a 20-year old woman, was riding a Barclays Cycle Hire bike at the time, marking the first fatality since the programme was introduced nearly three years ago.

The accident happened outside Aldgate East Tube station. The cyclist was travelling along Cycle Superhighway 2, which runs from Aldgate to Bow. In 2011 two cyclists were killed in the space of a month on CS2, near the troublesome junction at Bow flyover; Transport for London has since unveiled plans to redesign cycling facilities at the flyover, but another death on the same route will only bring further attention on the entire Cycle Superhighways project, which has been criticised for being confusing and inconsistent.

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JCyclist

Very sad, I was knocked down by an hgv while cycling a boris bike last year, I was dragged along the road for several metres, the only thing that stopped me from being crushed to death was the fact the bike became attached to the chassis. The driver stopped long enough for someone to pull me out and lie me on the pavement. As I lay there and waited for an ambulance the lorry drove away and to date the met have not been able to locate the driver or prosecute anyone. This happened in russell square in morning rush hour. It makes me sick to think that lorry drivers in London seem to have a complete disregard for cyclists and other road users. This driver nearly took my life and just drive off with no consequences, he didn't even check to see if I was ok (which I clearly wasn't). The met confirmed that I had been in the correct position on the road and that the lorry had been driving recklessly, so no matter how safe cyclists think they are, if there are reckless drivers out there who are not being held accountable for their actions, then cyclists don't stand a chance. Since my accident I've read about the poor girl in Victoria, now this girl, something really needs to be done to improve cycle safety in London before another life is lost.

Frogmella

Tragic. Please don't use this awful event for political or philosophical point-scoring (I'm specifically thinking about the 'confusing and inconsistent' editorial in this regard).

Matt

So very sad. Thoughts with friends and the family.

Ken Pork

Er unless you actually witnessed this I suggest you get down off your high horse cowboy:1. The driver was not arrested which suggests it was an accident.2. Therefore until the inquest you don't know who is to blame it may have been the cyclist. Who knows?3. This wasn't a "killing""it was an accident.

Tragic story. A life was lost and yes lots could be done to improve safety for cyclists. Chief among those is educating cyclists about their road behaviour as well of that of drivers.

I'm a cyclist in London and the amount of cyclists who weave through and cut up traffic without looking, who consistently ride through red lights and who aggressively barge into pedestrians is incredible.

The other thing that hasn't been considered is the subject of pedestals. I am always amazed how many pedestrians walk into the path of cyclists. How do you know the cyclist wasn't trying to avoid a pedestrian and accidentally manoeuvred in from of the lorry?

Get your facts straight before you rant matey.

Andrea Casalotti

If you want to read a detailed analysis of the conditions that cyclists are expected to put up with in #NastyBritain, this is from star blogger Danny Williams: